Pippen Ain't Easy
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Chicago Bulls: 5 Best NBA Draft classes of the GarPax Era

By Garrett Brooks

Ben Gordon, and Loul Deng. #9 of the Chicago Bulls combined for 61 points against the Milwaukee Bucks on April 14, 2008 at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The Bulls defeated the Bucks 151-135. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agreees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
Ben Gordon, and Loul Deng. #9 of the Chicago Bulls combined for 61 points against the Milwaukee Bucks on April 14, 2008 at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The Bulls defeated the Bucks 151-135. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agreees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /
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Chicago Bulls
OAKLAND, CA – JANUARY 27: Derrick Rose #1 and Joakim Noah #13 of the Chicago Bulls high-five in the fourth quarter of their game against the Golden State Warriors at ORACLE Arena on January 27, 2015 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

Chicago Bulls Best Draft Classes of the GarPax Era: 2007 NBA Draft

  • Joakim Noah, 9th Overall.
  • Aaron Gray, 49th Overall.
  • JamesOn Curry, 51st Overall.

The 2007 NBA Draft class is here on the back of one player. Joakim Noah was such a great selection and perfect fit short term and long term that he more than makes up for the lack of production the Bulls got from both Aaron Gray and JamesOn Curry.

Both were taken much later than Noah and didn’t need to pay off like he did after they selected him ninth overall. Curry only made one NBA appearance in his career and that came with the Los Angeles Clippers.

Gray, on the other hand, played seven seasons in the NBA with a few different franchises. He fell in and out of rotations and at his best was a depth big man due to his size.

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Noah was an interesting player at the time of the 2007 NBA Draft. He was coming out of a Florida program that had been loaded with talent in the years he attended the school. With current Bulls head coach Billy Donovan leading the program, Noah played alongside players such as Al Horford and Corey Brewer in college.

They won back-to-back championships and had a number of other players on the team that spent time in the NBA. Likely due to his somewhat unorthodox style on the court at times, people had a tendency to doubt how much would carry over for Noah to the next level.

Both Brewer and Horford were selected before Noah. Eventually, the Bulls were on the clock and Noah sat on the board. They pulled the trigger and we all know what happened from that moment on.

Noah established himself as a fan favorite in no time for his energy and hustle. He gave fans genuinely hilarious moments against the Bulls biggest rivals and most importantly, he developed into an incredible player.

He won plenty of accolades for his production, including a Defensive Player of the Year Award, 3 All-Defensive team appearances, 2 All-Star game appearances and an All-NBA appearance. He even developed into one of the game’s best passing big man, which would have sounded crazy to say when he was drafted.

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